The night fell like a tide of black ink, quietly covering the vast sea.
Far away from the bloodshed and chaos of Kirigakure, the four of them stopped on an uninhabited island.
The waves gently struck the reefs with a steady splashing sound, mixing with the crackling of the campfire and creating a rare sense of peace.
Tsunade and Kushina both looked tired from their long journey. Chiya noticed it and chose this place to rest.
Without saying anything, the four of them naturally divided the work among themselves.
Terumi Mei was still feeling restrained and confused.
Her mind was full of questions.
How did I end up on this pirate ship?
But her survival instincts made her swallow her questions. She quickly got to work and silently gathered dry firewood.
Having grown up under the Bloody Mist policy, Terumi Mei understood very well that she had to read the situation.
Chiya casually used a few Fire Style techniques to light the campfire, driving away the chill and darkness of the sea night.
Kushina happily formed hand seals with both hands.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
With a soft bang, a large iron pot that was big enough for everyone appeared on the open ground.
"Hehe, watch me!"
Kushina's eyes sparkled in the firelight.
She skillfully cleaned the fresh fish that Chiya had casually caught by the shore.
She then took out clean vegetables and seasonings that she had stored inside sealing scrolls and began preparing dinner.
Her movements were practiced, and her expression was focused. Her long red hair occasionally fell forward.
She casually tucked it behind her ear, and the firelight made her side profile look especially gentle.
Leaning against a nearby rock, Chiya quietly watched Kushina's busy figure, and his eyes gradually became absent minded.
It felt as though time was rapidly flowing backward and forward at the same time.
He still remembered the first time he met her in Konoha.
Back then, she was a little girl who was sensitive because of her special identity, like a tiny hedgehog, yet as thin and stubborn as a bean sprout.
Without realizing it, she had already grown into a graceful young woman.
She had also experienced war this time.
Her youthful innocence had faded, replaced by calmness and maturity.
But the sunshine and determination that belonged only to her had never changed.
A feeling that was difficult to describe, mixed with emotion and something else, quietly grew inside his heart.
It looks like...
The time to harvest was almost here.
Just then, Tsunade walked over, her golden hair dancing in the firelight.
She said nothing and simply reached out to gently tug at Chiya's sleeve.
Her eyes signaled for him to follow her behind a huge reef not far away.
Terumi Mei was tending the fire. Seeing this, she raised her head, and confusion flashed across her eyes.
Watching the two disappear behind the shadow of the reef one after another, she became even more confused.
Chiya, the head of the Uchiha Clan...
Of course she knew who he was.
And Tsunade was the most famous female ninja in the ninja world.
The granddaughter of Hashirama Senju.
She knew that too.
But why just now...
Weren't their clans supposed to have conflicts?
Why did they look so close?
She did not dare think too much. Although the flames of curiosity burned in her heart, she could only lower her head and carefully tend the campfire.
Behind the reef.
The sea breeze became slightly stronger, causing Tsunade's clothes to flutter.
She stopped walking, turned around, and faced Chiya.
The darkness and the reef's shadow hid most of her expression, but Chiya could clearly feel how focused her gaze was.
A warm hand gently touched his cheek.
Her fingertips trembled ever so slightly, as though she was confirming something incredibly important.
Her touch was gentle, yet filled with worry.
Chiya was slightly startled. Feeling confused, he spoke in a voice that sounded even lower beneath the crashing waves.
"Tsunade? What's wrong?"
Tsunade remained silent for several seconds, as though organizing her thoughts, before speaking softly.
There was a trace of bitterness hidden in her voice.
"I... I'm just a little scared."
"Scared?"
Chiya became even more confused. Was there really anything left in Kirigakure that could frighten her?
"Mhm."
Tsunade nodded. Her fingers still rested on his cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin.
"I'm afraid your power will become so great that you'll lose yourself.
I'm afraid the way you look at the world will become colder and colder.
I'm afraid you...
Will eventually become another Uchiha Madara and walk down the path where only power and conquest matter.
And forget... forget who you originally were."
Her words came out in pieces, but they fully revealed the worries hidden deep inside her heart.
She had personally witnessed how his power crushed everything in its path, how it made the entire ninja world tremble, and she had also seen the almost godlike indifference that occasionally appeared in his eyes.
She loved him, but she also deeply feared that this overwhelming power would one day consume him.
Chiya froze for a moment before a warm feeling surged through his heart.
So this was what she had been worried about.
He raised his hand and gently covered the hand resting on his cheek with his own warm palm.
He could not help but smile. That smile drove away some of the coldness on his face, revealing the familiar look she knew so well.
"Silly girl, what are you thinking?"
He looked into her eyes. Even though the light was dim, he believed she could see how serious he was.
"Power is only a tool. It can end this chaotic era and bring peace.
Naturally, it can also protect Konoha, and it can also protect... you.
I am still Uchiha Chiya. That has never changed."
His voice was calm, but it carried a convincing strength.
Looking into his eyes, Tsunade saw his certainty and the faint gentleness hidden within them.
The worry weighing on her heart eased a little, but her cheeks slowly grew warm.
Feeling the rising warmth of her hand, Chiya used her own words as an excuse.
He deliberately leaned closer and lowered his voice with a teasing tone.
"I never thought Lady Tsunade would also show such a worried and frightened little woman side.
It's really rare... It makes me want to comfort you properly."
Although they often got together to exchange taijutsu experience, hearing his deep voice filled with amusement and his whisper like teasing in this kind of atmosphere made Tsunade's heart race uncontrollably.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Like a young girl experiencing her first love, her face became even redder.
She instinctively tried to pull her hand away, but Chiya held it even tighter.
Looking at her rare expression of shy helplessness beneath the moonlight and the distant campfire, Chiya found her especially charming.
A mature beauty, as fiery as a fully ripened fruit, showing the innocent look of first love...
That contrast!
It was simply perfect!
It only made Chiya even more excited as he prepared to lean even closer.
"Big Brother Chiya! Lady Tsunade! Dinner's ready! Come back and eat!"
Kushina's clear and lively voice rang out with remarkable force, instantly breaking the warm and intimate atmosphere behind the reef.
As if waking from a dream, Tsunade quickly pulled her hand back.
She instinctively stepped back half a step and gave a light cough to hide her embarrassment.
"There are juniors here!"
Chiya laughed helplessly and looked regretfully toward the direction where Kushina's voice had come from.
He looked back at Tsunade, his eyes still carrying an unfinished smile and a trace of burning passion, then gave her a meaningful look.
He silently mouthed the words.
"Wait for me."
Tsunade's heartbeat had only just calmed down before those words made it race once more.
The blush on her face had not yet faded, and her eyes drifted away for a moment.
Yet she did not refuse. She simply gave an almost invisible nod.
Then she quickly turned around and hurried out from behind the reef toward the warm campfire.
Watching her back, Chiya smiled and slowly followed behind.
Beside the campfire, Terumi Mei carefully helped Kushina serve the fish soup. The rich aroma of seafood and vegetables filled the air.
Kushina smiled brightly as she called the two over.
"Come on, hurry up and eat while it's hot!
I specially learned my cooking from Sister Mikoto..."
Her eyes landed on Chiya as she playfully stuck out her tongue at him.
Then she handed the bowl of fish soup to Tsunade.
Tsunade had already regained her usual composure. She accepted the bowl and chopsticks and softly answered, "Mhm."
Only the faint blush lingering around the tips of her ears remained suspicious.
Chiya naturally sat down.
He also accepted the full bowl of soup that Kushina handed him and looked at the steaming meal before him and the three women sitting around the fire.
The island night no longer felt so cold.
And whenever his eyes met Tsunade's...
They always exchanged a look filled with hidden anticipation that only the two of them could understand.
The night...
Was still very long.
It seemed another battle was about to begin!
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